Hat Trick (D.C. Stars, #4)

by Chelsea Curto

With the renewed interest in the Paralympics last summer, including a spotlight on athletes like Hunter Woodhall, a double-amputee track star, and other decorated athletes, the idea came to me.

“I’m going to get him skating again,” I whisper to Piper and Emmy.

I’ve always been a determined bitch. Once I put my mind to something, I don’t stop until it happens, and I’ll be damned if Riley goes down without a fight.

“She wasn’t finished speaking,” Riley says,

I think I need to get my head checked, because that outburst was the hottest display of emotion I’ve ever seen in my goddamn life.

The romance books I read are right: having a guy turn a little unhinged and defend your honor is sexy as hell.

I want to be ready to fight the patriarchy if society collapses.”

Riley Mitchell is hot

I’m never going to get over this crush.

It makes me imagine there’s a world in which she’s doing it because she wants to, not because she has to. Because she likes spending time with me, not because she’s required to spend time with me.

It is perfect, and when our gazes lock, something snaps in both of us.

“Do you want me to save you a dance, Lexi baby?”

Funny how all my good days include her.

“See you tomorrow, Lexi baby.”

I count to one hundred, and when I know she’s gone, I grab a pillow. I put it over my face and groan, knowing I’m teetering on the edge of a very dangerous slope.

“I liked the book more than I thought I would. He’s a nice stalker; he makes breakfast for her before sneaking out of her house, and does her laundry when she’s at work.”

I’ve never seen them look so serious, so focused, and the second Riley pushes off the ice, I’m close to bursting into tears.

“I did,” I say. “I knew it all along.”

How do I tell him the time I spend with him is the best part of my day?

Friends, I tell myself. Bullshit, my brain whispers back.

I’m going to brush your hair, get you cleaned up in the shower, switch your sheets, then make you some soup.

She’s fighting a smile, but it doesn’t stop her eyes from crinkling in the corners or from her nose scrunching, and she’s the cutest thing in the whole fucking world.

Take my whole fucking heart while you’re at it

“Mhm. Just leave a fucking toothbrush at my place next time, Lex.”

“You’re mine,”

“But I think I am yours.”

I think I might be falling in love with you and if you gave me your heart, I’d promise to protect it for as long as you wanted

Today wasn’t pretty great. It was the best day of my life.

The perfect date hat trick.”

“Come on, boys. Let’s pretend like we’re Princess Mia driving the Mustang.”

“They’re all good days with you, Riley,” she whispers, and I hold that as close to chest as tight as I can.

I think I might’ve fallen a little bit in love with him, and the realization of my feelings is making my head spin.

“You don’t believe me?” He untangles our limbs and frowns down at me. “Ask me what my tattoo means.”

“It’s the stars in the night sky the day I stepped foot into the arena for the first time. And, consequently, the day I met you.”

Today is day one. The start of something new, something fucking exciting, and I’m doing it with her by my side.

I wonder if she can hear my brain screaming I love you over and over again

“Are you… is this some fucking PhD class on women’s emotional intelligence?” I ask. “When the fuck did you all get so deep and insightful?”

“You can be scared with me. I promise I’ll take care of you.”

“We have to take care of each other, you know? Too much shit going on in this world to not have love in our hearts,”

“That’s a hat trick, Lexi baby, and that means I win.”